SADDLEBACK NEWS: December 2015 Newsletter

Carol Fulton Clinic:

Who for: Open to riders walk/trot/canter to jumping all levels (grouped based on riding level)

What: Special Clinic w/Carol Fulton

Where: SaddleBack Equestrian

When: Saturday, Jan 23 - Sunday, Jan 34

Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 on Saturday; 10:00 - 4:00 on Sunday

Cost to ride: $175 for both days ($100 deposit required) or $100 for one day ($50 deposit required) deposit due by January 13

Cost to audit/watch: $40 for both days; $25 for 1 day (parents of riders can audit/watch at no charge)

Carol Fulton moved frequently growing up, so she had the advantage of developing her knowledge of the Hunter Jumper sport from varied instructors in Virginia, Florida, and Alabama, as well as clinics from trainers from throughout the United States. Her Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders and Education mixed well with her equine knowledge, and she developed a nationally known program for developing riders and horses. She has taught many Zone and Nationally ranked riders. She has qualified and taken riders to the National Equitation Finals (USEF, APSCA, USET), the Young Riders Championships, and Grand Prix jumping events. Locally, Carol taught more than 30 years in the Tulsa area, and she has coached many year-end champions and ride-off winners. She has given back to the sport by serving on the boards of OHJA and HJEO in many capacities, including president. She also provided quality opportunities for riders to compete by managing everything from local schooling shows to five-day USEF “AAA” Rated Shows. Carol’s overriding philosophy has always been to develop excellence in riding, but never at the expense of great horsemanship or sportsmanship. If that can be accomplished, then by developing great horsemen and horsewomen, we will be developing great human beings.

Each rider will have an assigned time slot to ride consisting of about 1.5 hours during the 10:00 am - 4:00 pm schedule. We will be assigning groups based on horses and riders skill level once everyone has signed up. Those auditing are welcome to stay all day as well as riders who are participating are encouraged to watch and learn from the other sessions.

There is a sign-up sheet on the tack room window. Please contact SaddleBack or sign up at the barn ASAP if you would like to attend, and note what school horse you prefer (if applicable). School horses will be reserved on a first come, first serve basis. We will do our best to pair you with your favorite school horse. There will be jumping groups at every level, and groups will be determined after sign-up is complete.

Christmas Party:We hope EVERYONE that attended the SaddleBack Christmas Party had a fantastic time! It seems the Minute-to-Win-It games were a hit! It is always a pleasure to see all of the Saddleback students and families come together for some fun, games, food, and lively conversations! Thank you so much for bringing all the delicious food, goodies, and presents for the Left/Right game! We will definitely do this again next year!

Reminder Discount Lesson Packages:SaddleBack is still offering the discount lesson packages of 10% off for 4 or more lessons purchased in advance. Please remember that in order to receive this 10% discount, we must have payment of the purchased package ON or BEFORE the 5TH of the month. For example: If purchasing 4 group jumping lessons for the month of January (4 X $40 = $160 - 10% off of $16 = $144) payment is due ON or BEFORE January 5th. If you have any questions, please contact Crystal at (918) 636-9888. Thank you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! We appreciate each and every one of you for making SaddleBack Equestrian the most amazing barn! Our students and families are close-knit, friendly, and fun to be around, which makes SaddleBack Equestrian one of the most highly sought after barns in the Tulsa-Broken Arrow area! On that note, all of SaddleBack staff want to wish our students and families a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

SADDLEBACK MONTHLY:

School Horse of the Month: Cappuccino aka Cappy

Cappy, a 19 year old 16.1hh Bay Thoroughbred, is registered with the Jockey Club. His current show name is Cappuccino and his previous show name was Capedocina (meaning a mob boss). Cappy's sire is Temperance Hill who won the 1980 Belmont Stakes (3rd leg of the Triple Crown Races) where he beat out the Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk. Cappy's sire also won the Arkansas Derby, the Rebel Stakes along with many other stake wins and was voted the United Stated Champion 3-Year Old Colt in 1980 with earnings of over $1.5 million. His offspring earned over $26 million in race winnings. We are checking Cappy's tattoo on the inside of his upper lip to get his Jockey Club information to see if he had any earnings during his racing career and will keep everyone posted! Prior to becoming one of SaddleBack's lesson horse, Cappy had spent time in both the Hunter and Jumper Rings with a successful show career. Marissa, one of SaddleBack's students, half leased Cappy for the 2015 show year and won Reserve Champion Reserve in the Academy Beginner 2'3 Divisions. Cappy is a handsome bay with a white star and hind white fetlocks and loves to jump! He is stalled in SaddleBack's Main Barn, so feel free to say "hi" to him when passing through.

Riding Tip of the Month:

Do you ever envy riders who make riding appear graceful and effortless? Well, everyone starts from the beginning and no one achieves flawless equitation without practicing, practicing, and more practicing of proper hunt seat equitation. Hunt seat equitation is the basis for equestrians who perform in the hunter/jumper divisions. One of the basics for hunt seat equitation are relaxed arms so you don't appear rigid and stiff on the horse. Sarah Mellings best describes it as, "your goal is to have “elastic” arms while keeping a straight line from your elbow to the horse’s mouth. You want your elbows relaxed right at the place where your belt would be on your pants" (Horse Journals, 2015). For us riders who learn best by visual aids, Mellings gives another great suggestion to imagine your arms in the proper position. She states to "think about holding a beach ball." Putting your arms in this position loosens the stiffness in in your upper body and gives you more control with your reins.Your arms and hands are likely to be soft and yielding with the horse's mouth and you will learn to use your legs and core for balance rather than your hands. Mellings also emphasizes, "your arms and hands need to be strong enough to control your horse, but relaxed enough to allow him freedom." Keep a soft contact with the horse's mouth, deep seat in the saddle, heels down, and a still leg. By practicing these tips consistently, you will be the elegant and polished equestrian you always wanted to become! Happy riding!